Abstract

This study was conducted to examine the preventive effects of fermented milk supplement with tomato and taurine on bone loss in ovariectomized rats. Twenty-seven female Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 200g were ovariectomized and then were randomly assigned to three groups (OVX, ovariectomized and fed a low calcium diet; OVX-C, ovariectomized control; OVX+TS, ovariectomized and fed fermented milk supplement with tomato). Each group was fed a low calcium diet for three weeks. After three weeks, the OVX group was sacrificed and the other groups were fed an experimental diet for 4 weeks. Length, weight and calcium levels of the femur and lumbar in the OVX+TS group were significantly elevated compared to those of the OVX group. Bone mass, breaking force and bone mineral density (BMD) of femur of the OVX+TS group were significantly greater than that of the OVX-C group. Serum alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP) was highest in the OVX-C group. Therefore, our findings suggest that fermented milk supplemented with tomato and taurine might improve bone health in postmenopausal osteoporotic rats.